Next Gen Motorsports BMW’s Glenn Allerton set the ASBK pace on Friday in Queensland. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Next Gen Motorsports BMW’s Glenn Allerton lapped below the qualifying lap record at Queensland Raceway during round three of the QBE Australian Superbike Championship this afternoon.

Allerton topped both free practice sessions on Friday in warm, sunny, conditions, setting the pace with 1m08.183 halfway through session two.

His time eclipsed the current qualifying record set by Jamie Stauffer in 2012 of 1m08.382.

The result was a continuation of the dual ASBK’s recent testing form at Queensland Raceway, entering the second point-scoring round of 2013 as the series leader.

“It didn’t feel like an 8.1, the bike was in line and we’ve got heaps of power with the HP4 so it all came together,” Allerton explained. “We’ve just been trying to make the bike steer off the exit of the turns, so we can take advantage of all the power.

“I kind of knew when we tested that I was capable of putting that kind of lap together but we never did, so it was really good to do it here today.

“The second one felt a little faster but I caught a slower rider in the double lefts – we maybe could have got into the 7s and that’s what I’ll be pushing for tomorrow.”

Team Suzuki local Robbie Bugden was next best with a 1m08.804, which was 0.621s off the pace of Allerton as he continues his transition back to the factory squad for this year.

Bugden’s teammate Wayne Maxwell recovered from a damaging crash on his first flying lap of the day to post the third quick time with a 1m09.262 lap aboard his spare GSX-R1000.

“We’re making progress and I definitely feel more comfortable this weekend after the tests that we’ve had since Tasmania,” Bugden said. “We’ll keep improving, but the main thing is that we’re heading in the right direction and I’m happy with that.”

Despite this set-back, Maxwell is confident he and the team will be able to cover in time for tomorrow’s all-important qualifying and Superpole sessions.

“It wasn’t a great start to the day, so we’re a session down, but big thanks to the guys at Team Suzuki and PTR,” Maxwell said. “It’s going to be a long road, Glenn’s form is continuing and Robbie’s riding awesome, so we’ll see how we go tomorrow as we build toward Sunday.”

An inspiring fourth fastest was Linden Magee in his first official outing on the Next Gen Motorsports BMW HP4 with a 1m09.832. Fellow rookie Josh Hook (Team Honda Racing) completed the top five with a 1m09.835.

Hook’s teammate Jamie Stauffer braved the pain of a pelvis injury sustained in a testing crash one week ago to slot into sixth at 1m09.957, but admitted it’ll be a difficult weekend on the bumpy Ipswich-based circuit.

The final four in the top 10 were Chas Hern (CMR Racing Suzuki, 1m10.185), Beau Beaton (Team Racers Edge Suzuki, 1m10.245), Glenn Scott (Team InsureMyRide Racing, 1m10.799) and Ben Henry (Cube Racing Suzuki, 1m10.959).

In Supersport it was round one winner Daniel Falzon (Caterpillar/EPSA/Yamaha) who was quickest with a 1m12.740 from Chris Quinn (Coopers Pale Ale/Holmes Extractive Resources Yamaha) at 1m12.856.

The top five included Ryan Taylor (Pirelli/Motul/SW Racing/YRD Yamaha, 1m13.130), Michael Blair (Blairbuild/YRD/JoeGroot Civil/Finson/Yamaha, 1m13.506) and Brendan Clarke (Champion’s Ride Days/Child’s Dream Honda, 1m13.552).

In the Prostock ranks it was Dustin Goldsmith (Kawasaki) who led the way one day one with a 1m10.807, from Ben Nicolson’s (Next Gen Motorsports BMW) 1m10.969 and Sean Condon (Bikebiz/Ipone/Swann Insurance Racing/Kawasaki) at 1m11.361.

Luke Burgess(Mackay Kawasaki/Kawasaki Australia/Tomsey Racing/KMF) led the 250 Production times with a 1m29.473 and Lachlan Kavney (Bullet Racing/Crackman NDT/Motul/Kingaroy Motorcycles Honda) was the top Moto3 runner with a 1m21.257.

2013 QBE Australian Superbike Championship
Round three – Queensland Raceway, QLD

Superbike practice times:
1. Glenn ALLERTON 1:08.183
2. Robert BUGDEN 1:08.804
3. Wayne MAXWELL 1:09.262
4. Linden MAGEE 1:09.832
5. Josh HOOK 1:09.835
6. Jamie STAUFFER 1:09.957
7. Chas HERN 1:10.185
8. Beau BEATON 1:10.245
9. Glenn SCOTT 1:10.799
10. Ben HENRY 1:10.959

Supersport practice times:
1. Daniel FALZON 1:12.740
2. Chris QUINN 1:12.856
3. Ryan TAYLOR 1:13.130
4. Michael BLAIR 1:13.506
5. Brendan CLARKE 1:13.552
6. Luke BURGESS 1:13.562
7. Callum SPRIGGS 1:13.938
8. Kyle BUCKLEY 1:13.955
9. Hudson PITT 1:13.964
10. Aaron GOBERT 1:14.083

Prostock practice times:
1. Dustin GOLDSMITH 1:10.807
2. Ben NICOLSON 1:10.969
3. Sean CONDON 1:11.361
4. Phil LOVETT 1:11.428
5. Patrick MEDCALF 1:11.554
6. Matt WALTERS 1:12.024
7. Adam CHRISTIE 1:12.048
8. Mathew HARDING 1:12.077
9. Ben BURKE 1:12.634
10. Angus REEKIE 1:12.729

Click here for detailed results